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The Chiesa di San Giacomo Maggiore is a large church located in the university quarter of the city. It was originally built in the 13th century with Gothic features, but has undergone several restorations over the years so that not many signs of its Gothic origin remains.
When we visited the church one evening in Sep 2006 it was undergoing further restoration inside. There was some scaffolding erected, but for the most part we could take a look at what is actually a pretty church. There are some lovely frescoes and little side chapels with statues and carvings.
Free admission. Leave a Comment Address: Via Zamboni/Piazza RossiniPhone: 051 225970Directions: In the university quarter
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Located in a prime position on Piazza Maggiore, the Basilica di San Petronio is quite a sight. The intriguing thing about it is that its façade has never been finished, the bottom half is marble and the top half ugly bricks.
Building commenced on the basilica back in 1390 and was never completed, although work continued for a few centuries. However, enough was built to make it the 5th largest church in the world....if construction had continued to plan it may well have been the largest. Rumour has it that construction was abandoned by order of the Pope, as he didn't want it to end up larger than St Peters (in Rome), which was Bologna's plan.
The basilica is dedicated to the patron saint of the city, Saint Petronius, who was Bologna's bishop in the 5th century. The inside is a little sombre, though it has elegant arches adding more height to the already vast interior. There are 22 side chapels with interesting glass work, paintings and sculptures. Check out the Capella Bolognini with its frescoes depicting heaven and hell.
Free admission Leave a Comment Address: Piazza MaggiorePhone: 051 225442
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Located in the Santo Stefano district is the Ex-Chiesa e Convento di Santa Lucia. This 17th century church and convent was relieved of its religious functions by Napoleon.
Here you can see an example of another of Bologna's unfinished facades - the church has the ugly brick façade, similar to that on the Basilica di San Petronio.
These days the church is used as the main lecture hall for the nearby university. We popped inside to have a look and it appeared that there was some sort of history or art lecture taking place.
One interesting thing to note - on the right hand side towards the back of the church there are toilets ; ) Leave a Comment Address: Via Castiglione 36Directions: In the Santo Stefano district
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One of the best things about Bologna (or should I say two of the best!) are Le Due Torri - the twin leaning towers. These two ancient towers are a symbol of the city, which used to be home to over 100 towers back in the 12th & 13th centuries. Today only two remain, and they look like they may fall down at any moment.
The tallest is called La Torre degli Asinelli. It is 98 metres high and was built in 1109, and these days has a 1.3 metre lean. You can climb to the top, via 498 steps - this is a tough climb! It is worth it though for the excellent views from the top.
The smaller tower is La Torre Garisenda, and it was built around the same time as its taller neighbour. It was originally around 77 metres, but due to dodgy foundations it really started to lean in the 13th century and they had to shorten it for safety reasons. Today the tower is around 48 metres, and has a 3.2 metre lean. This tower is closed to the public.
It costs around 3 euro the climb the tower. Leave a Comment Address: Piazza di Porta RavegnanaDirections: Just down the road from Piazza Maggiore
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Located close to the two towers, the triangular, cobbled Piazza Santo Stefano is a busy place. It seems to be a meeting place for students and locals. There are also some lovely buildings here. On one side is Le Case Isolani & La Corte Isolani, which consist of a series of courtyards and linked passageways.
The main attraction in the square is the Chiesa di Santo Stefano, at its southern end. Chiesa di Santo Stefano is actually four interlinked churches which gives the illusion of a never ending church. Originally there were seven churches, the oldest dating back to the 5th century. This original, ancient church was constructed by Bishop Petronius, who was soon to become the patron saint of Bologna.
The complex of churches was restored between 1870 and 1930 and for some reason this resulted in the reduction of the churches from seven to four.
Free admission. Leave a Comment Address: Piazza Santo Stefano/Via Santo Stefano 24Phone: 051 223256Directions: Just south of the two towersWebsite: http://www.abbaziasantostefano.it/ (in Italian only) Other Contact: info@abbaziasantostefano.it
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Our trip to Italy in Sep 2006 was to celebrate Alex's 30th birthday, and top of the birthday boy's wish list was a visit to the Ducati Factory & Museum. Ducati is an Italian motorcycle manufacturer, who has been supplying top class bikes to the world since 1946.
Ducati is located on the outskirts of Bologna, a 13km drive from the historic centre of Bologna. You can pre-book a tour which allows you to walk through the actual factory and see the bikes being made, along with a visit to the museum. And all of this is free of charge!
We arrived at Ducati a little before the scheduled tour time, and were taken into the 'staff canteen' to wait for the rest of the group to arrive. It was great to have an espresso and check out the workers having a mid-morning caffeine hit.
Our tour commenced in the Ducati Museum, where we have 30 minutes to check out the displays and drool over the old and new bikes. The museum set up was excellent - bikes from the last 60 years were on display, along with old bike racing leathers, photos of racing in the past and a big display cabinet with all of the racing trophies Ducati has won over the years.
We then moved onto the factory, where we spent around 30 minutes being walked around the various sections, seeing the way the bikes were assembled, tested, packaged for shipment etc. It was very interesting seeing the engines being assembled and fitted onto the frames. I was pleased to see that a good majority of the workers were women - all in full makeup of course, this is Italy after all ; )
Photographs were allowed in the Museum but not inside the factory.
Entrance is free, and tours must be booked in advance. I emailed to book our tour, and they got back to me within a day to confirm.
Guided tours are offered:
*Monday through Friday (for groups of up to 10 visitors) at the following times: 1st tour at 11:00 am & 2nd tour at 4:00 pm
*Saturdays for larger groups of up to 40 people - Continuous tours from 9:30 am until 1:00 pm
*Sunday: Closed Leave a Comment Address: Via Cavalieri Ducati 3, 40132 BolognaPhone: +39 051 6413343Directions: From the motorway, exit onto the Tangenziale and get off at exit #2, Borgo Panigale. You will be on the Benedetto Croce traffic circle. Exit the circle onto Viale Alcide De Gasperi (towards Modena) and then take the first right onto Via Cavalieri Ducati.Website: http://www.ducati.com/heritage/museo/contatti.jhtml Other Contact: infotour@ducati.com
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Bologna, also beeing constructed in the middle of Padana plane, had a large port that allowed boat connections to the sea and with the nearby regions.
The industry of the silk was a lot important and therefore the fluvial connections were fundamental for the commerce.
Passing the time the port ( in Bologna there is Port Streat!) and its channels have lost more and more importance, are disappeared the loundresses, the flour mills that were found until 20 years ago in the first bolognese country.
Now this net of channels is partially disappeared and those little that are still found in city have been covered, like in Via Riva di Reno.
But the same channel that passes in this road re-appear just in the historical center of Bologna, passing under via Independenza and between two rows of houses, with its balconies and little windows.
Walk around this zone difficultly you will notice it if not lend much attention.
In Via Piella, entering in this road from via Augusto Righi, 20 meters ahead on the right you will find one small window in wood with next one historical plate. From this window you will be able to see the channel exactly as I have photographed it.
Tried to imagine this zone with little palaces, the boats on the river full of products for the commerce! Leave a Comment Address: Via Piella, corner Via Augusto RighiDirections: this is the web page of the map of this area: http://www.tuttocitta.it/tc/mappa.jsp?com1=bologna+%28bo%29&to1=Via+Piella&civ1=7&rg=15&pv=bo&cx=11.34525&cy=44.49859&lx=11.34525&ly=44.49859&z=0.6&lv=1&ct=&st=&cs=&nm=&al=125579&type=null&d=1
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Bologna is rich of visible and 'invisible' channels. Seeing Bolonga nobody would imagine the complex net in the underground of Bologna. The Association 'Amici delle Acque' studies and preserves this great patrimony, organizes guided tours in various location over and under the ground.
The association have a web site with all the next appointment, but this page is only in Italian. Telephon them to have info on the next tours.
From the website:
The sole purpose of the Association is to promote and develop awareness of the role which water has played in the history of the city of Bologna and its surrounding area, and of the underground waterways and hidden attractions which may be found there.
How much? From 6 to 12 euros, depend on the type of tour Leave a Comment Phone: 051.522401Directions: Amici delle Acque Segreteria: Viale Pietramellara, 11 - 40141 BOLOGNA Telefono: 051.522401 - Fax: 051.557794 E-mail: segreteria@amicidelleacque.comWebsite: http://www.amicidelleacque.com/ Other Contact: segreteria@amicidelleacque.com
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this is a big building beetween piazza Maggiore, Piazza Nettuno e PIazza re Enzo.
Palazzo del Podestà
This was the first seat of the town government, represented by the Podestà and his judges and officers. The original building was not so different to the actual shape: under the vaults of its arcades and all around it there were shops of artisans, drapers, green grocers all lined up,
There is bell tower called calling citizens in case of out-of-the ordinary events (assemblies, wars..). Builded on four corner pillars on a vault, called 'Voltone del Podestà' . In this vault ther is a particular sound effects: is u stay in a corner u can hear each other's whispers from the opposite corners.
Palazzo RE Enzo
King Enzo Palace was built between 1244-46 as an extension of Municipal buildings. Just three years later it became the 'residence' of the King taken prisoner in the battle of Fossalta(King Enzo of Sardinia, son of Frederick II). In this golden prison he spent his remaining twenty three years of life.
Several legends were born around the mythical figure of the prisoner King: as a ransom for his son, the father had the people of Bologna enough gold to encircle their town walls; the King had made an escape hidden inside a 'brenta' or cask, foiled by a woman who had cried out 'scappa, scappa!' - he 's running away - thus being rewarded by the town with the honour of using the surname of Scappi. Leave a Comment Address: In the main square, Piazza MaggioreDirections: one of the 4 side of the Square
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Bologna is surpassed from the Sanctuary of Saint Luca that is constructed on a hill. For me the architecture of this church is not beautifull, but it has one large affective importance for all Bologna citizens. when you are in order to arrive to Bologna you see it from far away and already you feel yourself at home......I leave under this hill and while I am writing I see the church from my window.
Every year there is a big catholic procession: the faithfull bring the Madonna di San Luca from the hill to the Bologna Chatedral, in via Indipendenza, in the center and after a week the Satue retourn back, with another procession on the churc onthe top of the hill.
I'm not faithfull, so, sorry I'm not to much updated to this things....I only know that the long Portico from the center to hte top of the hill protect the pilgrim that pray one Ave Maria for each stap of the portico, the same numer of the Rosario!
For me portico di San Luca adn the churc is the remember of nice day when I was 17een, taking my Vespa scooter with the frinds to have ride till the top to see the 'panorama' of Bologna. Leave a Comment Address: Colle di San LucaDirections: From Via Andra Costa, Meloncello Arch, here start the road and the stairs under the portico...everybody know San Luca!
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on November 15, 2006
on November 2, 2005
